Anonymous
04/02/2023 10:12
Subject: Re:Should DCPS be broken up into multiple districts?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Breaking it up by Ward would actually make a lot of sense. Giving local control to the relevant Ward Council member would ensure better and more direct oversight of DCPS.
Wow, no, in what world does that make sense? First of all, what about those of us who live on the edge of the ward? My kid goes to a DCPS OOB in another Ward that is actually closer than our IB school (proximity preference). We are more connected to this school in terms of community too -- the ward boundary is arbitrary and doesn't really reflect the community.
Second, do you actually think Ward council members are qualified to oversee schools? Because I don't. I understand the debate over mayoral control but at least the mayor has a large staff and budget and can hire people to run the schools. I'd also be open to an elected school board, for the record. But no, I don't want my Ward Council rep, who has a relatively small office and budget and, from what I can tell, pretty limited understanding of school oversight, running the schools. That's insane. Also, ward reps are actually pretty busy doing other stuff. It just makes no sense. Would they all have an individual school chancellor under them? What on earth.
I don't understand the OPs goal in wanting to break up the school district. Why? Is it really just to segregate the rich kids from the poor kids? I honestly cannot think of any good reason that isn't just "I don't like having to prioritize the needs of poor kids in my school system."
Some examples include school lunches, requiring translators and screen time in schools. Many parents would prefer that schools have little to no screen time in k-8, while other parents decry that, because some kids do not have computers at home, so wouldn’t get exposure to computers if not at school.
As for school lunches, many parents do not want their kids to be able to get food they didn’t send in money for that day i.e. don’t want their kid getting cookies at lunch that they didn’t pay for. If lunch is free for everyone in the school, kids whose parents pack lunch for them will end up getting unhealthy food for free that their parents didn’t approve of. If the parents approved of it, they would’ve sent in lunch money that day. In schools with needier student bodies, universal free lunch makes more sense.
Anonymous
04/02/2023 10:09
Subject: Should DCPS be broken up into multiple districts?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:“Giving local control to relevant ward council member.”
You’ve lost your mind.
Wonder why every high school in DC except Jackson-Reed is below enrollment?”
The current system isn't working. We need to try something new and local control is part of the solution.
Look at the ES level, where there already is much more local control. And guess what?! Outcomes are generally a lot better at the ES level than MS or HS level.
”Local control” is code for “socioeconomic and racial segregation.”
Make your kids desirable to be around (well-behaved, not burdensome, independent, adaptable) and people will want to be around them.
Lol, you want your kid to go to school only with children who are "not burdensome, independent, and adaptable"? So... well-regulated adults. You want your child to go to school with well-regulated adults.
Children are, by definition, burdensome and dependent. I guarantee yours are too, friend.
Anonymous
04/02/2023 10:07
Subject: Should DCPS be broken up into multiple districts?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:“Giving local control to relevant ward council member.”
You’ve lost your mind.
Wonder why every high school in DC except Jackson-Reed is below enrollment?”
The current system isn't working. We need to try something new and local control is part of the solution.
Look at the ES level, where there already is much more local control. And guess what?! Outcomes are generally a lot better at the ES level than MS or HS level.
”Local control” is code for “socioeconomic and racial segregation.”
Could you explain your reasoning? Right now you're just using big scary words to try to shut down this conversation. And please explain how the current system is better, which it's clearly not with so many students in DC failing.
Anonymous
04/02/2023 10:06
Subject: Should DCPS be broken up into multiple districts?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:“Giving local control to relevant ward council member.”
You’ve lost your mind.
Wonder why every high school in DC except Jackson-Reed is below enrollment?”
The current system isn't working. We need to try something new and local control is part of the solution.
Look at the ES level, where there already is much more local control. And guess what?! Outcomes are generally a lot better at the ES level than MS or HS level.
”Local control” is code for “socioeconomic and racial segregation.”
I am all for racial diversity, ethnic diversity, gender diversity, diversity of sexual orientations and people in a variety of professions.
Socioeconomic diversity, not so much. Poor people don’t tend to like being in environments where what they don’t have is being rubbed in their faces 24/7.
Anonymous
04/02/2023 10:05
Subject: Re:Should DCPS be broken up into multiple districts?
Anonymous wrote:Breaking it up by Ward would actually make a lot of sense. Giving local control to the relevant Ward Council member would ensure better and more direct oversight of DCPS.
Wow, no, in what world does that make sense? First of all, what about those of us who live on the edge of the ward? My kid goes to a DCPS OOB in another Ward that is actually closer than our IB school (proximity preference). We are more connected to this school in terms of community too -- the ward boundary is arbitrary and doesn't really reflect the community.
Second, do you actually think Ward council members are qualified to oversee schools? Because I don't. I understand the debate over mayoral control but at least the mayor has a large staff and budget and can hire people to run the schools. I'd also be open to an elected school board, for the record. But no, I don't want my Ward Council rep, who has a relatively small office and budget and, from what I can tell, pretty limited understanding of school oversight, running the schools. That's insane. Also, ward reps are actually pretty busy doing other stuff. It just makes no sense. Would they all have an individual school chancellor under them? What on earth.
I don't understand the OPs goal in wanting to break up the school district. Why? Is it really just to segregate the rich kids from the poor kids? I honestly cannot think of any good reason that isn't just "I don't like having to prioritize the needs of poor kids in my school system."
Anonymous
04/02/2023 10:04
Subject: Should DCPS be broken up into multiple districts?
Anonymous wrote:The fact that I believe OP is well intentioned and people see nothing problematic about this approach is exactly why we need to have anti-racist conversations. And the fact that people will balk at that opinion is also a great reason.
The people who are advocating what you’re advocating for complain about both “white flight” and “gentrification.” Which are two sides of the same coin. Can’t have it both ways.
Anonymous
04/02/2023 10:02
Subject: Should DCPS be broken up into multiple districts?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:“Giving local control to relevant ward council member.”
You’ve lost your mind.
Wonder why every high school in DC except Jackson-Reed is below enrollment?”
The current system isn't working. We need to try something new and local control is part of the solution.
Look at the ES level, where there already is much more local control. And guess what?! Outcomes are generally a lot better at the ES level than MS or HS level.
”Local control” is code for “socioeconomic and racial segregation.”
Make your kids desirable to be around (well-behaved, not burdensome, independent, adaptable) and people will want to be around them.
Anonymous
04/02/2023 10:01
Subject: Should DCPS be broken up into multiple districts?
The fact that I believe OP is well intentioned and people see nothing problematic about this approach is exactly why we need to have anti-racist conversations. And the fact that people will balk at that opinion is also a great reason.
Anonymous
04/02/2023 10:01
Subject: Should DCPS be broken up into multiple districts?
Anonymous wrote:Sure. Just segregate the rich from the poor. Problem solved, right?
Small, walkable neighborhood schools are best. Nobody wants to sit on a bus for an hour each way.
Show me municipality of over 60,000 people that has universally good k-12 neighborhood schools and I’ll show you 10 that don’t. Big school districts DO NOT WORK.
Anonymous
04/02/2023 09:55
Subject: Should DCPS be broken up into multiple districts?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:“Giving local control to relevant ward council member.”
You’ve lost your mind.
Wonder why every high school in DC except Jackson-Reed is below enrollment?”
The current system isn't working. We need to try something new and local control is part of the solution.
Look at the ES level, where there already is much more local control. And guess what?! Outcomes are generally a lot better at the ES level than MS or HS level.
”Local control” is code for “socioeconomic and racial segregation.”
Anonymous
04/02/2023 09:25
Subject: Should DCPS be broken up into multiple districts?
Anonymous wrote:“Giving local control to relevant ward council member.”
You’ve lost your mind.
Wonder why every high school in DC except Jackson-Reed is below enrollment?”
The current system isn't working. We need to try something new and local control is part of the solution.
Look at the ES level, where there already is much more local control. And guess what?! Outcomes are generally a lot better at the ES level than MS or HS level.
Anonymous
04/02/2023 09:16
Subject: Should DCPS be broken up into multiple districts?
“Giving local control to relevant ward council member.”
You’ve lost your mind.
Wonder why every high school in DC except Jackson-Reed is below enrollment?”
You’ve lost your mind.
Wonder why every high school in DC except Jackson-Reed is below enrollment?”
Anonymous
04/02/2023 09:01
Subject: Re:Should DCPS be broken up into multiple districts?
Breaking it up by Ward would actually make a lot of sense. Giving local control to the relevant Ward Council member would ensure better and more direct oversight of DCPS.
Anonymous
04/02/2023 08:59
Subject: Should DCPS be broken up into multiple districts?
Sure. Just segregate the rich from the poor. Problem solved, right?
Anonymous
04/01/2023 18:46
Subject: Should DCPS be broken up into multiple districts?
I don’t think DCPS is adequately serving students with widely varying financial needs.